EXCLUSIVE: Anger and frustration greet Autumn Statement

Social care was conspicuous by its absence during the Chancellor’s announcement with no additional money released for the sector.

Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England (pictured), said: “Yet again the Chancellor has ignored social care. In doing so the government needs to be prepared for the detrimental impact on families, local economies and the NHS.

“Social care needs to be a priority, indeed in some regions it is a huge employer and stability is crucial for those in receipt of care and those in its employment.

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“Unfortunately the lack of investment in social care spells disaster in the NHS and potentially a perpetual winter.”

Dr Alison Rose-Quirie, CEO of Swanton Care and Community said she was outraged.

“Once again social care has been totally overlooked by the Chancellor despite the sector making it clear that we are on the brink of a care crisis,” Dr Quirie said.

“This government either doesn’t understand the seriousness of this situation or simply doesn’t care about people who lead the most challenging lives.

“I now fear for the stability of the entire social and health care systems in this country, especially as we approach winter. Do we really have to wait for a total system failure before we act, surely our most vulnerable people deserve so much better than that?”

Paul Newman, chief executive of Greensleeves Care, said the Chancellor had failed to address the mounting pressure on the social care sector.

“Independent research repeatedly highlights the current and growing funding gap and it is an increasingly frequent topic raised at Westminster by backbenchers and the Health Select Committee yet appears not to be a priority for the Cabinet,” Paul said.

“The sector needs to work together with our colleagues in the health service to ensure we jointly deliver a sustainable, person-centred and integrated health and care service for the vulnerable people in our nation.”

Jane Ashcroft CBE, CEO of Anchor said it was “hugely disappointing” that an opportunity had been missed by the government again to adequately fund social care.

“For Britain to be open for business, we need the right social support to be in place,” Jane said.

“Yet funding has declined in real terms and safeguards to protect individuals’ spending on social care have been shelved. Urgent action is needed to protect older people and their families and reduce the huge pressures on the NHS that result from an underfunded social care system.”

Tony Stein, chief executive of Healthcare Management Solutions, added: “We are long past the time when this problem can be kicked into the long grass and unless something is done as a matter of urgency there will be a permanent loss of much needed capacity as homes close.”